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The double standards applied to the enforcement of liquor legislation have contributed to the alcohol problems present in many Indigenous communities. People have the right to be able to feel safe in their towns and communities and not to have to witness or experience alcohol related violence, so some controls on excessive alcohol consumption are necessary. Central to any form of restriction or controls on alcohol use is enforcement. Policing of existing legislation and regulations must be the same for everyone. Although the cost of remote policing is higher than in urban areas – the cost of not enforcing appropriate standards of behaviour is even higher.
Sara’s research on issues affecting Indigenous Australians includes an examination of the Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) program, Indigenous homeownership, the lack of accountability in Indigenous health, remote Indigenous stores and alcohol restrictions.
Since joining the CIS in 2008, Sara has had numerous articles on Indigenous issues published in newspapers around the country. Before joining the CIS Sara worked as a policy advisor for the New Zealand Department of Labour, and in the Evaluation Unit of the New Zealand Police. She has a Bachelor of Arts with first-class honours in criminology and anthropology from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.
